Fabric turnover device

ABSTRACT

A device for turning over sequentially alternate garment components being transferred on a conveyor is disclosed which senses the presence of a garment component on the conveyor, raises and captures the leading edge of the garment component thereby permitting conveyor rollers covered with an elastomeric material to sweep the following edge of the garment component under its captured leading edge, and releases the captured leading edge of the garment component after an appropriate delay period.

United States Patent [19 1 Lopez et a1.

FABRIC TURNOVER DEVICE Inventors: ,Enrique Lopez; Robert D. Spidle;

Aubrey Glenn Beazley, all of El Paso, Tex.

Assignee: Farah Manufacturing Company,

lnc., El Paso, Tex.

Filed: Oct. 6, 1971 Appl. No.: 186,986

Related U.S. Application Data Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 44,710, June 9, 1970, Pat. No. 3,611,961,

U.S. Cl. ..198/270, 198/40 Int. Cl. B65g 47/24 Field of Search 198/127, 33 AD, 40; 193/37 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Reid 198/33 AD [111 3,794,153 [451 Feb. 26, 1974 3,650,375 3/1972 Fleischauer 198/127 R 3,047,288. 9/1958 Ramm 3,651,911 3/1972 Kornylak ..198/137 Primary ExaminerRichard E. Aegerter Attorney,'Agent, or Firm-Curtis, Morris.& Safford 5 7 ABSTRACT A device for turning over sequentially alternate garment components being transferred on a conveyor is disclosed which senses the presence of a garment component on the conveyor, raises and captures the leading edge of the garment component thereby permitting conveyor rollers covered with an elastomeric material to sweep the following edge of the garment component under its captured leading edge, and releases the captured leading edge of the garment component after an appropriate delay period.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENTED FEBZB I974 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTORS ENRIQUE LOPEZ ROBERT D. SPIDLE AUBREY GLENN BEAZLEY VMTM ATTORNEYS 'PATENTEDFEBZE I914 3,794,153

' sum 2 OF 2 Q) LL INVENTORS ENRIQUE LOPEZ ROBERT D. SPIDLE AUBREY GLENN BEAZLE ATTORNEYS FABRIC TURNOVER DEVICE This application is a continuation-in-part of applicationSer. No. 44,710 filed on June 9, 1970 and now US. Pat. No. 3,611,961 issued on Oct. 12, 1972.

This invention relates to an apparatus for turning over garment components, and more particularly, to a device which inverts alternate garment components as the components are fed individually along conveyor rollers.

In producing a number of similar garments, it is the accepted practice in the trade to lay out a bolt of cloth on a pattern table about 125 ft. in length for pattern drawing or arranging. The bolt is then folded alternately face side up and face side down for a total of about 120 layers. As a consequence of this layout procedure, pattern cutting produces stacks of garment components each consisting of 120 components per stack wherein each alternate component in each stack is inverted. Before the garment components can be assembled with other garment components, such as attaching a stiffener patch to a welting patch, the alternate garment components in each stack must be inverted in order to assure the proper matching of shade and tone of each garment component to its related components. Because of the fatiguefactor associated with manually performed inversion, assembly and labeling and because of the possible loss of fabric order, it is highly advantageous to provide automatic errorfree inversion.

In accordance with the present invention, a turnover apparatus is provided which is particularly adapted for inverting fabric workpieces. As a workpiece is transported along a conveyor, it interrupts the light beam path between a lamp and photoelectric cell. The photoelectric cell output is delayed to allow sufficient time for the workpiece to advance to a capturing device which lifts and clamps the leading edge of the workpiece. The conveyor continues to advance the remainder of the workpiece under the clamped leading edge. After a sufficient delay following removal of the workpiece from the light beam path to allow the trailing edge of the workpiece to be inverted, the leading edge of the workpiece is released from the capturing device; the leading edge then becomes the new trailing edge. By utilizing appropriate circuitry, the capturing device may be activated for alternate workpieces.

In The Drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a fabric turnover device;

FIGS. la to 1c are schematic side views of the fabric turnover device sequentially showing the turnover method utilized; and,

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electrical control circuit for the fabric turnover device.

A turnover device 200 for inverting fabric workpieces is shown in FIG. 1. As a fabric garment component travels along the conveyor rollers 201, it intersuitable elastomeric material has been found to be silicon rubber. The number of rollers covered with this material may vary, however, it has been found that adequate operation is obtained by covering about six rollers, three preceding and three following a turnover gate 207, with the elastomeric material. Of course, the number of rollers 201 covered with the elastomeric material may be varied to accommodate various fabric materials. For example, the frictional characteristics and turnover behavior .of materials based on thickness and stiffness may be used to determine the appropriate number of covered rollers required.

- The turnover gate 207 includes a U-shaped rod, the two ends of which are affixed to a horizontal bar 209. A downward projecting rod 211 of a vertically positioned pneumatic cylinder 210 is centrally attached to bar 209 to move bar 209 vertically when cylinder 210 is activated.

Pneumatic activation of cylinder 210 raises bar 209 and an internal spring in cylinder 210 urges bar 209 downwardly when the cylinder is deactivated. Cylinder 210 is mounted on a horizontally extending portion of a support frame 212 attached to the conveyor frame 52. A horizontal bar 214 extends from frame 212 di-v rectly below cylinder 210. An elastomeric cushioning pad 216 covers the bottom of bar 214. Bar 214 also has two notches 214a and 214b at its ends to guide gate 207 in its work stroke.

The operational sequence of the fabric turnover device 200 is illustrated in FIGS. la to 1c. The approximate position of the garment component 10 is shown in FIG. 1a before the pneumatic cylinder 210 retracts the turnover gate 207 upwardly. In FIG. lb, gate 207 has captured the garment component against the elastomeric material 216 on bar 214. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1c, the continuous motion of the conveyor rol-.

lers 201 advance the loose end of the garment component underneath and past the turnover gate 207. After an appropriate period of time has elapsed, the garment component is released by deactivating cylinder 210 thus permitting the cylinders internal spring to move the rod gate 207 downwardly in a continuous motion until it reaches its downward rest position ready for the next component to be turned over. The downward motion of gate 207 is relatively slow because of the residual back pressure in cylinder 210 which permits the released end of the garment component to be advanced from beneath gate 207 before the gate reaches its downward rest position. Rod 211 is shown cylindrical in shape, however, it also may be in the form of a hexagon guided within the cylinder 210.

ELECTRICAL CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR TURNOVER DEVICE 200 As a garment component proceeds down the conveyor rollers 201, the leading edge thereof interrupts the path of the light beam from lamp 204 to turnover photocell 202. This causes the input to a delay-on and delay-off circuit 646 (or delayed stop and start circuit as it is also 'known) to be grounded by photocell amplifier 648, (see FIG. 2).

After a time interval sufficient to assure that the leading edge of the garment component is aligned properly beneath the turnover mechanism, this interval corresponding to the on-time delay of delay circuit 646, the output of delay circuit 646 is grounded, causing relay 650 to energize with the following results:

1. Capacitor 652 is charged to 150 volts DC through resistor 654.

2. Assuming that the stepper relay 656 (which causes the turnover gate 207 to be inoperative in respect to every other garment component) is in the position as shown, turnover valve 210d is energized, causing the leading edge of the garment component to be captured by the turnover mechanism.

When the trailing edge of the garment component advances past photocell 202, thus permitting the light beam from lamp 204 to impinge thereon, the input to delay circuit 646 is ungrounded by the photocell amplifier 648. v

.After a time interval sufficient to assure that the turnover operation is complete, this time interval corresponding to the .off-time delay of delay circuit 646, relay 650 is de-en'ergized with the following results:

1. Turnover valve 210d is de-energized, causing the garment component to be released.

2. Stepper relay 656 is momentarily energized by charged capacitor 652, causing stepper relay 656 to change state. Stepping relay 656 will remain in its new state until the next time it is energized. This causes the turnover gate 207 to be inoperative for alternate garment components.

All circuits have thus returned to their initial condi-' 'tion marking the end of the turnover operation.

What Is Claimed ls: l. A device for turning over a comprising: i I

a. means for conveying'a garment component along a predetermined path of travel, said conveying means including at, least two rollers extending transversely of said path of travel;

b. means for sensing the presence of said garment component at a predetermined position on said I means for conveying adjacent said two rollers;

c. means for lifting a leading edge of said garment component from said conveying means, said means for lifting being positioned generally between said two rollers of said conveying means after said means .for sensing, in the conveying direction of said means for conveying and including a stationary bar rigidly mounted adjacent. to and above said conveying means, a movable gate member movably mounted with respect to saidstationary bar and positioned between said stationary bar and said conveying means, and means for reciprocating said gate member between a position between said rollers and a positionadjacent to said stationary bar; said reciprocating means being operatively interconnected and responsive to said means for senss;

d. said means for reciprocating (i) lifting said gate member from said position between said rollers to said position adjacent to and in gripping engagement with said stationary bar when the presence of a garment component is sensed at said predetermined position by said sensing means, threby lifting the leading edge of said garment and holding it garment ,componeng against said stationary bar and (ii) lowering said gate member from said position adjacent said stationary-bar to said position'between said rollers, thereby releasing said lifted leading edge of said garment component from said stationary bar after a following edge of said garment component is advanced past said rollers and said means for sensing.

4 2. A device according to claim 1 including means for controlling and cycling said device. I 3. A device according to claim 2 and wherein said means for controlling and cycling said device includesmeans for alternate activation of said means for lifting.

4. A device according to claim 3 and wherein said means for controlling and cycling said device is an electrical circuit comprising:

a. relay means for switching power to said'means for lifting, said relay means including said means for alternate activation of said means for lifting;

b. means for energizing said relay meansoperatively interconnected between said means for sensing and said relay means, said meansforenergizing including first delay means for delaying energizing said relay means until said garment component is properly positioned with respect to said means for lift ing by-said means for conveying; and, j

c. means for de-energizing said relay means operatively interconnected between said means for sensing and said relay means, s'aidmeansfor deenergizing including second delay means for delaying de-energizing said relay means until a following end of said garment component is carried past said means for lifting. V

5. A device according to claim 4 and wherein said first delay means is a delay-on portion of a delay-on and delay-off circuit and said second delay means is a delay-off portion of said delay-on and delay-off circuit.

6. A device according to claim 1 and wherein said means for conveying comprises, a plurality of rotating conveyor rollers, at least one roller having an elastomeric material covering thereon.

7. A deviceaccording to claim '1' and wherein said timing means includes, a photoelectric cell and photoelectric cell lamp positioned on an input side of said capturing means, first delay means for delaying activation of said capturing means after the presence of a garment component is sensed, andv second delay means for delaying activation of said releasing means after the absence'of a garmentis sensed.

8 A device according to claim 1 wherein said stationary bar has a cushioning pad mounted thereon .for garment; gripping cooperation withsaid gate member.

9. .A device for turning over a'garment component comprising: I 3

a. a plurality of rotating conveyor rollers, at least one roller having an elastomeric material covering thereon;

. b. a photoelectric cell and photoelectric cell lamp vertically positioned on opposite sides of said rotating conveyor rollers and laterally positioned between two of said rollers for sensing the presence and absence of said garment component at a prdetermined position on said conveyor rollers;

c. astationary bar laterally spaced from said photoelectric cell in a conveying direction'of said conveyor rollers and vertically positioned above said conveyor rollers;

d. a movable gate positioned vertically beneath said stationary bar, said movablegate positionable between two of said conveyor rollers;

e. a pneumatic cylinder vertically positioned and wardly with respect to said stationary bar when said said movable gate; and, garment component is present over said movable g. means for de-energizing said pneumatic cylinder gate; responsive to sensed absence of said garment commeans for energizing said pneumatic cylinder reponent by said photoelectric cell, said means for sponsive to sensed presence of said garment com- 5 de-energizing including second delay means for deponent by said photoelectric cell, said means for laying de-energizing said pneumatic cylinder until energizing including first delay means for delaying a following end of said garment component is carenergizing said pneumatic cylinder until a leading ried by said rollers past said movable gate. end of said garment component is positioned over 

1. A device for turning over a garment componeng comprising: a. means for conveying a garment component along a predetermined path of travel, said conveying means including at least two rollers extending transversely of said path of travel; b. means for sensing the presence of said garment component at a predetermined position on said means for conveying adjacent said two rollers; c. means for lifting a leading edge of said garment component from said conveying means, said means for lifting being positioned generally between said two rollers of said conveying means after said means for sensing, in the conveying direction of said means for conveying and including a stationary bar rigidly mounted adjacent to and above said conveying means, a movable gate member movably mounted with respect to said stationary bar and positioned between said stationary bar and said conveying means, and means for reciprocating said gate member between a position between said rollers and a position adjacent to said stationary bar; said reciprocating means being operatively interconnected and responsive to said means for sensing; d. said means for reciprocating (i) lifting said gate member from said position between said rollers to said position adjacent to and in gripping engagement with said stationary bar when the presence of a garment component is sensed at said predetermined position by said sensing means, threby lifting the leading edge of said garment and holding it against said stationary bar and (ii) lowering said gate member from said position adjacent said stationary bar to said position between said rollers, thereby releasing said lifted leading edge of said garment component from said stationary bar after a following edge of said garment component is advanced past said rollers and said means for sensing.
 2. A device according to claim 1 including means for controlling and cycling said device.
 3. A device according to claim 2 and wherein said means for controlling and cycling said device includes means for alternate activation of said means for lifting.
 4. A device according to claim 3 and wherein said means for controlling and cycling said device is an electrical circuit comprising: a. relay means for switching power to said means for lifting, said relay means including said means for alternate activation of said means for lifting; b. means for energizing said relay means operatively interconnected between said means for sensing and said relay means, said means for energizing including first delay means for delaying energizing said relay means until said garment component is properly positioned with respect to said means for lifting by said means for conveying; and, c. means for de-energizing said relay means operatively interconnected between said means for sensing and said relay meanS, said means for de-energizing including second delay means for delaying de-energizing said relay means until a following end of said garment component is carried past said means for lifting.
 5. A device according to claim 4 and wherein said first delay means is a delay-on portion of a delay-on and delay-off circuit and said second delay means is a delay-off portion of said delay-on and delay-off circuit.
 6. A device according to claim 1 and wherein said means for conveying comprises, a plurality of rotating conveyor rollers, at least one roller having an elastomeric material covering thereon.
 7. A device according to claim 1 and wherein said timing means includes, a photoelectric cell and photoelectric cell lamp positioned on an input side of said capturing means, first delay means for delaying activation of said capturing means after the presence of a garment component is sensed, and second delay means for delaying activation of said releasing means after the absence of a garment is sensed.
 8. A device according to claim 1 wherein said stationary bar has a cushioning pad mounted thereon for garment gripping cooperation with said gate member.
 9. A device for turning over a garment component comprising: a. a plurality of rotating conveyor rollers, at least one roller having an elastomeric material covering thereon; b. a photoelectric cell and photoelectric cell lamp vertically positioned on opposite sides of said rotating conveyor rollers and laterally positioned between two of said rollers for sensing the presence and absence of said garment component at a prdetermined position on said conveyor rollers; c. a stationary bar laterally spaced from said photoelectric cell in a conveying direction of said conveyor rollers and vertically positioned above said conveyor rollers; d. a movable gate positioned vertically beneath said stationary bar, said movable gate positionable between two of said conveyor rollers; e. a pneumatic cylinder vertically positioned and fixed with respect to said stationary bar, said cylinder having a downwardly an upwardly extendable piston rod interconnected to said movable gate for urging said movable gate upwardly and downwardly with respect to said stationary bar when said garment component is present over said movable gate; f. means for energizing said pneumatic cylinder responsive to sensed presence of said garment component by said photoelectric cell, said means for energizing including first delay means for delaying energizing said pneumatic cylinder until a leading end of said garment component is positioned over said movable gate; and, g. means for de-energizing said pneumatic cylinder responsive to sensed absence of said garment component by said photoelectric cell, said means for de-energizing including second delay means for delaying de-energizing said pneumatic cylinder until a following end of said garment component is carried by said rollers past said movable gate. 